Scientific Family
Lemnaceae
Synonyms
Lenticula gibbosa P. Renault, Telmatophace arrhiza Schur, Telmatophace generalis E.H. L. Krause,
Other common names
inflated duckweed
gibbous duckweed
fat duckweed
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
To 6 inches
Riparian
Yes
Plants grow singularly or in clusters of 2 or more fronds. A mother frond attaches to new fronds by a white, thin and often decaying stipe (stalk).
Free-floating, aquatic plant; roots to 6 inches; fronds (consist of part stem and part leaf blade) mostly immersed, lower surface pale and swollen, upper surfaced mottled; small unisexual flowers, surrounded by protruding, filmy cover.
Habitat
Found in still waters and slow moving streams in areas with mild winters.
Plant Community
Riparian
Low elevation
0
High elevation
6500
Flower Characteristics
Unisexual; lacking sepals and petals; 1 pistil (female organ) and 2 stamens (male organs); flowers enclosed in a membranous sheath (filmy protective covering) with a narrow opening at tip.
Flower color
White
Flower shape
Other
Tubular
No
First bloom month
June
Last bloom month
September
Flower clusters
None
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Fronds (look like leaves but stem and leaf not identified separately), tiny, floating, oval to round, swollen, to 1/4 inch long, to 1/4 inch wide, upper surface mottled yellowish-green, lower surface reddish-purple, 3 to 7 veins; air spaces present.
Leaf type
Compound
Leaf color
Yellowish-green,reddish-purple
Leaf shape
Round or oval
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
None
Spines
Yes
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Follicle (dry many-seeded fruit opening along 1 side only), 1/16 inch long, laterally winged.
Fruit type
Winged
1 to 3 seeds, 8 to 16 distinct ribs, falling out of fruit wall after ripening.